GPS Troubleshooting Guide for iPhones

If you’re having difficulties tracking distance with your Runtastic app, it is likely that your iPhone is experiencing GPS issues. The steps below should help you to obtain and maintain a strong GPS signal.

There are a number of troubleshooting steps to try to get your GPS working again on your iPhone. We recommend going through them in this order to determine what the cause might be:

Step 1 Install the latest version of iOS once it becomes available and make sure you have installed the latest version of the Runtastic app on your iPhone

Step 2 Ensure that the GPS signal indicator is green before you hit start. Try to avoid starting your activity in area where there may be a weaker GPS signal, for example near high buildings, deep forests or near huge amounts of water like lakes or sea.

Step 3 Check the app’s location permissions

One of the most common issues is people forget to enable location services for the Runtastic app. To check, follow the steps below:

  1. Go to your iPhone settings and select Privacy
  2. Select Location Services.
  3. Make sure that Location Services is enabled*
  4. Scroll down to find Runtastic in the list
  5. Tap the app and select “Always”

* If Location Services are already enabled, try switching the toggle on and off again to refresh the setting

Step 4 Check that Airplane mode is switched off

To check Airplane mode settings, follow the steps below:

  1. Go to your iPhone settings and select Airplane Mode
  2. Toggle Airplane mode on and then off again. Make sure it remains disabled before you start your activity

Step 5 Set your timezone correctly

For GPS-enabled apps to work properly, your device needs to have the correct date and time.To verify your date and time settings on your iPhone, follow the steps below:

  1. Go to your iPhone’s settings
  2. Select Date & Time
  3. Select Set Automatically

Step 6 Reset Network settings

In order to obtain a strong GPS signal, your iPhone must have a satisfactory network reception. Be sure to deal with any network issues first if you’re facing GPS difficulties using the troubleshooting steps below:

  1. Disconnect then reconnect to your network
  2. Turn off LTE and select 3G

Step 7 Perform a soft reset

  1. Press and hold the Sleep/wake button and the power button at the same time. Hold the buttons for at least 10 seconds
  2. release the buttons when you see the Apple logo.

Step 8 Check whether you have given the app permission to use the "approximate location"  on iOS14, as this can also result in GPS issues. 

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